JPH0658234U - Linear motion guide unit - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a linear motion guide unit that can supply a lubricant quickly and easily without disassembling even if it is small. [Structure] The seal 9 (10) has a lubricant injection hole 15a, 1
6a is formed and a lubricant such as grease is injected through the lubricant injection hole by using the lubricant injector 20 to obtain the above effect.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a linear motion guide unit that is installed in, for example, a machine tool or an industrial robot and that linearly guides an object to be moved.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, as an example of this type of linear motion guide unit, there is a linear motion rolling guide unit shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

As shown in the figure, in the linear motion rolling guide unit, a track rail 101 having track grooves 101a each formed as a track on both left and right sides along the longitudinal direction, and a rolling element circulation path 102 (FIG. 14). A slide unit 103 as a slide base having relative movement with respect to the track rail 101, and arranged and housed in the rolling element circulation path 102 so that the track may be moved along with the movement of the slide unit 103. It is composed of a large number of balls 104 as rolling elements which circulate while rolling on the groove 101a and apply a load between the track rail 101 and the slide unit 103.

The slide unit 103 has a casing 106 provided so as to straddle the track rail 101, and a pair of end caps 107 a and 107 b coupled to the front and rear ends of the casing 106. Two seals 108a and 108b are attached to the outer surfaces of the end caps 107a and 107b by screws 110.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the linear motion rolling guide unit described above, in order to obtain a smooth operating state of the slide unit 103, prevent wear, and suppress the generation of noise accompanying the operation, the ball 104, A grease is usually filled as a lubricant between the mechanically operating members.

The grease is sufficiently filled at the time of assembling the linear motion guide unit, but it is gradually consumed over the time of use, and it is necessary to supplement this. As one of means for replenishing grease, it is often practiced to attach a grease nipple to the slide unit and inject it into the grease nipple from a grease gun.

However, it is difficult to attach the grease nipple to a small linear motion guide unit, specifically, a unit having a dimension H of 20 m / m or less in FIG. Therefore, for such a small linear motion guide unit, the operation of the machine tool and other equipment equipped with it is temporarily stopped and removed, the slide unit is disassembled, and grease is refilled. However, there is a drawback that it causes work delay.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a linear motion guide unit capable of quickly and easily supplying a lubricant even in a small size. There is.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 According to the present invention, there is provided a direct track including a track rail having a track formed along the longitudinal direction, a slide base movable relative to the track rail, and seals provided at both ends of the slide base. In the dynamic guide unit, a lubricant injection hole is formed in the seal.

[0010]

【Example】

 Next, a linear motion rolling guide unit as an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the linear motion rolling guide unit is made of a metal and has a substantially prismatic shape in which track grooves 1a are formed along the longitudinal direction as track tracks on both left and right sides. A slide unit 3 as a slide table having a track rail 1 and a rolling element circuit 2 (details of which will be described later) and freely movable relative to the track rail 1, and arranged in the rolling element circuit 2. There are a large number of balls 4 as rolling elements that are accommodated and circulate while rolling on the track groove 1a as the slide unit 3 moves, and apply a load between the track rail 1 and the slide unit 3. is doing.

The slide unit 3 is made of metal or synthetic resin as a material and is provided with a casing 6 provided so as to straddle the track rail 1. A screw 5 is made of metal or synthetic resin at the front and rear ends of the casing 6. It is composed of a pair of end caps 7 and 8 fastened together. Seals 9 and 10 are attached to the outer surfaces of the end caps 7 and 8, respectively. The seals 9 and 10 are fastened together with the end caps 7 and 8 to the casing 6 with a screw 5. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the rolling element circulation passage 2 includes a load raceway groove 2a, that is, a load raceway and a return passage 2b formed in a casing 6 linearly and parallel to each other, both end caps 7, And a pair of substantially semi-circular direction change paths 2c and 2d which are formed in No. 8 and connect the load raceway groove 2a and the return path 2b at both ends thereof. The load track groove 2a corresponds to the track groove 1a of the track rail 1.

By the way, the linear motion rolling guide unit is arranged, for example, on a bed (not shown) of a machine tool, and the track rail 1 is fixed to the bed by bolts. Then, a table (not shown) for supporting the workpiece or the like is bolted to the slide unit 3, and this operates as a movable side. That is, the workpiece is reciprocated by the drive means while the workpiece or the like is placed on the table. As shown in FIG. 1, the track rail 1 is provided with a plurality of insertion holes 1b arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction thereof, through which bolts for fixing to the bed or the like are inserted. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of screw holes 6a are formed on the upper surface of the casing 6 of the slide unit 3, and the table has bolts (not shown) screwed into the screw holes 6a. ) Is fastened to the slide unit 3.

Here, the configurations of the end caps 7 and 8 and the seals 9 and 10 described above will be described in detail. Since the end caps 7 and 8 and the seals 9 and 10 are formed in the same shape, only one end cap 7 and the seal 9 will be described, and the other end cap 8 and the seal 10 will be described. The description is omitted.

First, the end cap 7 will be described.

As is apparent from FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the end cap 7 is composed of a main body portion 12 and a circulation path spacer 13 interposed between the main body portion 12 and the casing 6. .

5 to 7 show details of the main body portion 12, and FIGS. 8 and 9 show details of the circulation path spacer 13.

As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the main body portion 12 is provided with the outside of the direction change passage 2c (see FIGS. 1 to 3) which is a part of the rolling element circulation passage 2 described above. A substantially U-shaped groove 12a forming a half portion is formed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the circulation path spacer 13 is provided with substantially semi-cylindrical projections 13a at two locations, and both projections 13a have inner halves of the direction changing path 2c. A groove 13b forming a part is formed.

That is, the protrusion 13a is fitted in the recess 12g (shown in FIG. 7) formed in the body portion 12, so that the grooves 12a and 13b are aligned with each other and the direction change path 2c is formed. Is formed. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, in the main body portion 12, the balls 4 rolling along the load raceway grooves 2a (see FIGS. 1 and 3) are placed in the direction changing paths 2c and 2d. A ball holding band 12b is formed which holds for introduction.

As shown in FIG. 5, insertion holes 12c through which the screws 5 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) are inserted are formed on both left and right sides of the main body portion 12. The screw 5 is screwed into a screw hole (not shown) formed at the end of the casing 6 through the insertion hole 12c.

A pair of cylindrical protrusions 12f are integrally formed on the back surface side of the main body portion 12, and these protrusions 12f are formed in a fitting hole (not shown) formed in the casing 6. The fitting position of the end cap 7 with respect to the casing 6 is determined by fitting the two.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the circulation path spacer 13 is formed with insertion holes 13c and 13d through which the screw 5 and the projection 12f of the main body portion 12 are inserted.

Next, the seal 9 will be described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 10 and 11, the seal 9 includes a highly rigid plate-shaped core member 15 made of metal, synthetic resin or the like, and the core member. An elastic member 16 such as rubber is attached to the front surface side of 15 by an adhesive or the like and is in sliding contact with the track rail 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, lubricant injection holes 15a and 16a are concentric with each other in the central portion of the core member 15 and the elastic member 16 constituting the seal 9. Is formed. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a syringe-like lubricant injector 20 is prepared, and the nozzle portion 20a of the lubricant injector 20 is inserted into the lubricant injection holes 15a and 16a. Inject grease.

The grease injected from the lubricant injection holes 15a and 16a reaches the rolling element circulation path 2 and the balls 4 through the following paths.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the body portion 12 of the seal 9 is formed with a through hole 12h communicating with the lubricant injection holes 15a and 16a. Then, on the inner surface side of the main body portion 12, two branch grooves 12i are formed which communicate with the through hole 12h at one end and extend to the left and right.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, around the respective insertion holes 12c formed in the main body portion 12 for inserting the screws 5 (see FIG. 1, etc.), the annular groove 1 communicating with the insertion holes 12c is formed. 2j is formed, and the branch groove 12i communicates with the annular groove 12j at the other end. Further, as also shown in FIG. 7, a small linear groove 12k is provided which connects the annular groove 12j and the U-shaped groove 12a located below the annular groove 12j to each other. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the circulation path spacer 13 joined to the main body portion 12 is provided with a groove 13f corresponding to the groove 12k. By matching these grooves 12k and 13f, a passage having a substantially circular cross section is formed.

In the above-described configuration, as shown by the arrows in FIGS. 4 and 7, the grease injected by the lubricant injector 20 through the lubricant injection holes 15a and 16a is the through hole 12h, the branch groove 12i, The circular groove 12j and the grooves 12k and 13f (see FIG. 8 and the like) are sequentially passed to reach the U-shaped groove 12a. As described above, since the groove 12a forms the direction change path 2c which is a part of the rolling element circulation path 2 (see FIGS. 1 to 3), the grease is applied to the rolling element circulation path 2 and along the same. Will be supplied to each rolling ball 4.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the annular groove 12j (see FIG. 7) communicating with the insertion hole 12c into which the screw 5 is inserted is formed and used as a grease passage. According to this, the valley portion of the screw 5 also acts as a grease passage, and the grease supply efficiency is high.

Further, as is clear from FIG. 4, for example, the lubricant injection hole 16a formed in the elastic member 16 has an extremely small diameter, and the thin nozzle portion 20a of the lubricant injector 20 can be closely fitted. Has become. This prevents the grease from flowing out after the nozzle portion 20a is removed from the lubricant injection hole 16a.

As shown in FIG. 10, the core member 15 and the elastic member 16 are provided with openings 15d and 16c into which the neck and head of the screw 5 are inserted, respectively. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the lip portion 16d of the elastic member 16, that is, the sliding contact portion with the track rail 1, has a tongue piece slidably contacting the track groove 1a formed in the track rail 1. The portion 16e is formed.

FIG. 12 shows a main part of a linear motion rolling guide unit as a second embodiment of the present invention. The linear motion rolling guide unit is configured in the same manner as the linear motion rolling guide unit as the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 except for the portion shown in the figure, so that the unit as a whole is The description is omitted and only the main part is described. Further, in the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those of the linear motion rolling guide unit of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 12, in this linear motion rolling guide unit, the lubricant injection hole 16 a formed in the elastic member 16 that constitutes the seal 9 together with the core member 15 is a closable hole. ing. That is, when the nozzle part 20a of the lubricant injector 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 is inserted, the elasticity of the elastic member 16 causes the lubricant injection hole 16a to expand, but when the nozzle part 20a is removed. At the same time, it is restored and closed. Therefore, the outflow of the injected grease is almost completely prevented.

However, in a workplace or the like where the lighting is relatively dark, it is feared that it becomes difficult to visually recognize the lubricant injection hole 16a in such a closed state. Therefore, the following configuration is adopted. .

That is, as shown in FIG. 12, an annular or substantially annular projection 16g is integrally formed as a mark on the surface of the elastic member 16 so as to surround the lubricant injection hole 16a. Thereby, the operator can easily check the lubricant injection hole 16a, and the grease can be quickly injected.

The mark is not limited to the shape described above, but may have another shape, or may be colored. However, if the annular projection 16g is used as described above, the projection 16g effectively acts as a guide when the nozzle portion 20a of the lubricant injector 20 is inserted into the lubricant injection hole 16a.

In each of the above embodiments, the slide unit 3 has a rolling element circulation path, and the balls 4 as rolling elements circulate in the rolling element circulation path. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is applicable to various other linear motion guide units as well as such a configuration.

Further, although the balls 4 are used as the rolling elements in each of the embodiments, a configuration using rollers may be used. As the lubricant, not only grease but oil or the like can be used.

[0040]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, in the linear motion guide unit according to the present invention, since the lubricant injection hole is formed in the seal, it is possible to quickly and easily supply the lubricant without disassembling even if the size is small. The effect is that you can do it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a linear motion rolling guide unit as a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view including a partial cross section of the configuration shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the configuration shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. 3;

5 is a front view of a main body portion of an end cap included in the linear motion rolling guide unit shown in FIG.

6 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the main body portion of the end cap shown in FIG.

8 is a front view of a circulation path spacer which is a constituent member of an end cap included in the linear motion rolling guide unit shown in FIG.

9 is a side view of the circulation path spacer shown in FIG. 8. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a seal included in the linear motion rolling guide unit shown in FIG.

11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of a linear motion rolling guide unit as a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view including a partial cross section of a main part of a conventional linear motion rolling guide unit.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the linear motion rolling guide unit shown in FIG. 13 including a partial cross section.

[Explanation of sign]

1 Track rail 2 Rolling element circulation path 3 Slide unit (sliding base) 4 Ball (rolling element) 6 Casing 7, 8 End cap 9, 10 Seal 12 Main body part (of end cap 7, 8) 13 Circulation path spacer 15 core Member (of seal 9) 15a, 16a Lubricant injection hole 16 Elastic member 20 Lubricant injector

Claims (6)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A straight track provided with a track rail having a track formed along a longitudinal direction thereof, a slide base movable relative to the track rail, and seals provided at both ends of the slide base. A linear guide unit, wherein the seal has a lubricant injection hole formed therein. 2. The seal comprises a highly rigid plate-shaped core member,
The linear motion according to claim 1, comprising an elastic member attached to the core member and slidably contacting the track rail, and the lubricant injection hole is formed in the core member and the elastic member. Information unit. 3. The linear motion guide unit according to claim 2, wherein the lubricant injection hole formed in the elastic member is a fine hole that can be closed. 4. A mark is provided on the elastic member in the vicinity of the lubricant injection hole.
The linear motion guide unit described. 5. The linear motion guide unit according to claim 4, wherein the mark is a substantially annular protrusion provided so as to surround the lubricant injection hole. 6. The casing, wherein the slide base has a load track corresponding to the track and a return path substantially parallel to the load track, and a direction change path that forms a rolling element circulation path together with the load track and the return path. And a plurality of rolling elements that are arranged and housed in the rolling element circulation path and that circulate while rolling on the orbits and apply a load by forming an end cap connected to both ends of the casing. The linear motion guiding unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein